Prior to the
second series of BARREL ROLL flights, 2d Air Division requested and received
approval to fly recce aircraft with the strike group with the recce aircraft
authorized to fly below 10,000 feet at optimum altitude to get photos of the
type and quality necessary to assess immediate strike results. If the recce
aircraft had to descend, escort of CAP aircraft would support them. Like the
first mission, napalm was not authorized on these flights, nor were strike
aircraft to be launched from Thailand bases.

On
15 December, AC-47 aircraft were introduced to combat, which was to result in
additional rules of engagement to provide for their utilization.

Another
request by MACV for the use of two Thai-based F-105's to escort strike recce
aircraft on-the second series of BARREL ROLL missions was disapproved by CINCPAC
an 22 December. CINCPAC said that the intent of BARREL ROLL was to limit strike
forces to four aircraft from other than Thailand bases. The addition of the two
F-105's would raise the number of aircraft to six and would not comply with the
ground rules laid down by "higher authority."

At
the close of 1964, 2d Air Division published a compilation of the Rules of
Engagement summarizing prohibitive and permissive air actions in force at that
time:

Annex
1 - INTERNATIONAL WATERS AND AIRSPACE OVER INTERNATIONAL WATERS.

1. (TS) U.S. Forces are authorized to attack and
destroy any vessel or aircraft which attacks or gives positive indication of
intent to attack U.S. Forces.

2.
(TS) Hot pursuit into territorial waters and airspace as may be necessary and
feasible is authorized.

3.
(TS) Hostile forces and installations, other than those actively engaged in
accordance with these rules, which are encountered outside the confines of RVN
and Thailand will not be attacked except as necessary for self defense and only
to that extent.

4.
(TS) To pursuit is authorized into CHICOM territorial waters or airspace.

Annex
2 - REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (RVN).

1.
(TS) U.S. Forces are authorized to engage and destroy hostile aircraft en-
countered within the boundaries of RVN.

2.
(TS) Hot pursuit may be conducted as necessary and feasible into North Vietnam (DRV),
Laos, Cambodia, and over inter- national waters not to include CHICOM territory
or territorial waters.

3.
(TS) Hostile forces or installations, other than those actively engaged in
accordance with these rules, which are encountered outside the confines of RVN,
will not be attacked except as necessary for self defense and only to that
extent.

Annex
3 - REPUBLIC OF THAILAND.

1.
(TS) U.S. Forces are authorized to engage and destroy hostile aircraft
encountered with- in the boundaries of Thailand.

2.
(TS) Hot pursuit may be conducted as necessary and feasible into North Vietnam (DRV),
Laos, Cambodia, and over international waters not to include CHICOM territory or
territorial waters.

3.
(TS) Hostile forces or installations, other than those actively engaged in
accordance with these rules, which are encountered outside the confines of
Thailand, will not be attacked except as necessary for self defense and only to
that extent.

Annex
4a- AIR DEFENSE OF LAOS.

1.
(TS) U.S. Forces positioned in RVN and Thailand may be used for air defense
employment in Laos when authorized by the Commander 2AD or his authorized
representative.

a.
Information on any action taken under this authority will be provided to JCS by
flash precedence message.

2.
(TS) U.S. air defense forces are authorized to engage and destroy hostile
aircraft in Laos. Hot pursuit may be conducted as necessary and feasible over
RVN and Thailand.

a.
Hot pursuit into North Vietnam and Cambodia is not authorized except when
actually engaged in combat.

3.
(TS) Unless specifically authorized, U.S. air defense forces are not authorized
to attack hostile forces or installations, other than those committed against,
unless attack first, and then only to the extent necessary for self defense.

4.
(TS) Definitions of a hostile aircraft and hostile acts are the same as those
defined in paragraph 4 (basic attachment) with the following additions:

a.
A hostile aircraft is one which is visually identified, or designated by the
U.S. Director of an AOC or his authorized representative, as a Communist
bloc or Cambodian aircraft overflying Laos territory

and
committing a hostile Act.

b.
Friendly forces include Air America and Bird & Son aircraft and
installations.

2.
(TS) Low level escort: If reconnaissance or escort aircraft are fired upon,
retaliatory fire is authorized either on the first pass with the reconnaissance
air- craft, or by circling back and conducting subsequent passes.

3.
(TS) Low level escort against areas having strong AAA: Escorts are
authorized to employ the best operational technique available to minimize risk
which, when authorized by JCS, may include attack on

known
AAA positions in advance of reconnaissance aircraft where suppression of ground
fire is considered essential for safety of the reconnaissance aircraft.

Annex
4c- RESCAP OPERATIONS - LAOS.

1.
(TS) RESCAP aircraft will not enter the area of the distressed crew-member (s)
unless requested by the Rescue "On-Scene- Commander" or Rescue
Control.

2.(TS)
If rescue helicopters are fired upon, RESCAP aircraft will take action to
suppress ground fire after the helicopter (s) departs the area of ground fire.

a.
If ground fire is coming from the vicinity of the distressed crew member (s),
RFSCAP aircraft will insure that return fire will not endanger friendlies on the
ground.

b.
If the crew on the ground can be seen and ground fire is preventing helicopters
from approaching close enough for

pick-up,
RESCAP aircraft between the enemy positions and the distressed crew member (s)
as a screening action for the helicopters.

Annex
4d- AIR DEFENSE CAP LAOS IN CONJUNCTION WITH RLAF STRIKE/BDA

1.
(TS) When requested by the U.S. Ambassador to Laos, CAP is authorized to provide
top cover for RLAF T-28 strikes in Laos by CINCPAC TS message 140843Z Oct 64,
"Corridor Ops Laos", and IAW JCS 9117, "Definitive Rules of
Engagement Applying to Laos." This applies only to authorized pre-briefed
targets in Laos and to the provision of navigational assistance to RLAF T-28's
and YANKEE TEAM aircraft assigned to obtain BDA of attacked targets. JCS 9117,
"Definitive Rules of Engagement Applying to Laos" applies with the
following exception: Suppressive or retaliatory fire against AAA is not
authorized.

2.
(S) Should CAP aircraft be diverted for RESCAP, current SAR rules will apply.